Fastener secured installation and fastener therefor



Oct. 17, 1944. w. H. CHURCHILL 2,360,647

FASTENER SECURED INSTALLATION AND FASTENER THEREFOR Filed June 13, 1942 p; 122129322207! mas e I? 6%?! 7'03.

2/ awe-M Patented a. 17, 1944.

FASTENER SECURED INSTALLATION AND FASTENER 'IHEREFOB Wilmer H. Churchill, Sangus, Mass., assignor to I United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge,

Mass a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 13, 1942, Serial No. 446,872

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to fastener secured installations and aims generally to improve and simplify existing installations as well as the fastener therefor.

One of the principal aims and objects .of the invention is the provision of an improved fastener installation to secure a stem of a supported part, which may be of plastic or other material, to an apertured support, which may be of thin sheet metal.

A further object of the invention is the im-' provement and simplification of the construction of the fastener per se for such installation.

Illustrative of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating two forms of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating one form of fastener securedinstallation according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig, 3 is an end elevation thereof, partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 5 is a transverse central sectional view of the fastener; 1

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof: 7

Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section of a fastener secured installation according to a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of thevsecond form of fastener per se; and v Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof. I

According to the invention, the installation comprises a cup-shaped part having one or more interior stems extending below the rim thereof with which is associated a fastener member adapted for snap fastener engagement with the apertured support, such as an apertured sheet metal part.

The part III to be supported may be of any suitable construction and shape, may be made of any .suitable material, and, desirably, may be of a plastic-composition.

Advantageously, the part III comprises a body II and a peripheral rim l2 providing a hollow interior l3. Depending from the body II and within the interior 13 are one or more studs H, which maybe of plastic composition, and which may be cylindrical in shape. The stud or studs l4 extend downwardly below the outer edge of the rim I2 and are adapted to be inserted in apertures I! (which may be round or elongated,

be a sheet metal panel or like part.

' as shown in Fig. 2) in a support It, which may Suitable fastening means are provided for securing the part It to the support It with the edge of the rim II in flush-tight engagement with the support, and, preferably, these fasteners engage 'the studs and have snap fastener engagement with the marginal walls of the support apertures IS.

The fastener member is preferably formed of a single piece of spring sheet metal of general U-shaped form,.the bight portion of the U being flat and constituting a base 20 adapted to engage and bear against the end of the stud ll. The legs of the U-shaped fastener .have outwardly divergent portions 2| and upper inwardly convergent portions 22, providing bowed legs spaced outwardly from the sides of said stud. The inner terminal ends of said legs are formed with extensions 23 disposed in planes perpendicular to the plane of the base so as to make flush engagement with the surface of the stud It, said extensions 23 having laterally and slightly twisted angularly extending wings 24 adapted to engage diametrically opposed side portions of the stud. As shown, each extension 23 has two wings 24, one on each end thereof, but, if preferred,

each extension may have only one wing, in which case the wings would preferably be diametrically opposed.

In assembly the fasteners may be placed'over the ends of the studs It with their base portion fastened position in the support apertures past the outermost bowed portion-of the legs, the fastener legs snap into locking engagement with the aperture walls, the upper ends of the legs still gripping the stud under spring tension of the bowed legs, and the twisted portions 24 providing a firm grip on the material of the studs.

The part It may thus be securely attached to the apertured support It with the edge of the rim l2 in flush engagement with the support, and with the fastener positioned interiorly of the part III and concealed from View.

According to one form of the invention (Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive) the base 20 of the fastener may be iormed with upstanding fingers 2! which engage the lower end portion of the stud and center the stud and base relative to each other. According to a modiiled form of the invention the base of the fastener ring may be secured to the stud end 5 by a suitable fastening, such as a screw 26, extending through an aperture in the base and threaded into the stud. I

Although I have illustrated and described preierred embodiments of my invention, I do not 10 wish to be limited thereby because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener for securing a stud-likepart to 15 an apertured support comprising a U-shaped metal member. the legs oi said U being outwardly bowed intermediate their ends for snap fastener engagement with the apertured support and having their free ends spaced to permit passage of 20 'irom opposite side edges oi each 01 said legs and disposed in planes perpendicular to said base, said wings having slightly twisted end portions for engaging and gripping diametrically opposed sides of said stud-like part when said bowed legs are in fastened engagement with said support.

WILMER H. CHURCHILL. 

